Mental Health Boards Panel Discussion - February 3, 2022
Report on 708 Mental Health Boards -
On Monday, August 8, advocates working to create Community Mental Health Boards in Lisle, Naperville and Winfield Townships filed the petition signatures that they have been gathering for the past several months. More than three dozen volunteers have collected over 3000 signatures to put a mental health referendum on the ballot for the Tuesday, November 8, General Election.
If approved by voters, the referendum will create a Community Mental Health Board, also known as a 708 Board.
The Board would be appointed by the Township Supervisor, and will be authorized, with the approval of the Township Board, to levy a small tax that would provide expanded services for mental health, substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities for residents of the Township.
A Community Mental Health board helps fill in gaps in services and reduces long wait lists. If created, the Board would not duplicate existing services. Instead, funds would be distributed to existing community agencies to fill community needs.
Presently there are more than 67 Mental Health Boards in Illinois. Area Townships with Community Mental Health Boards include Berwyn, Bloomingdale, Hanover, Milton, Oak Park, Proviso, and Lyons Townships.
Similar efforts are being pursued in Schaumburg, Wheeling, Vernon, and Addison Townships, and the Will County Board voted to add this referendum to their ballot.
For more information, visit www.AdvocateFor708.org, or contact Donna Prepejchal at 630-985-7492 dprepejcha [at] comcast.net or
Lisa Rose 630-890-1741
